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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI met Marilyn in the years following the unexpected loss of her beloved husband. As I watched her navigate the heartbreak of widowhood, I was comforted (imagine this) by her faith and the way she and the Lord were walking through her loss and her new normal. As she learned how to survive (and even thrive) in her new stage of life, she wanted to share the lessons and comfort God had given her. The result was her first book with Our Daily Bread, Hope for Widows<\/a><\/em>. I\u2019ve given away this book away many times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, hooray, she has a devotional to partner with this book, Mourning Glories: 40 Devotions on Grief, Faith and New Seasons for Widows<\/em>.<\/a> I asked her if I could share a sample devotion with my readers, and she said yes! I hope it blesses you. If you\u2019re a widow or you know a widow, why not order a copy? You\u2019ll be blessed and your friend will too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PSALM 119:105<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unpacking never-ending boxes is part of moving. But when you move to another state, you have additional tasks. In one of our moves, a new driver\u2019s license meant tests\u2014vision, written, and road sign recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To say I was stressed is an understatement. Yes, I\u2019ve been driving for over fifty years, but something about those trick questions stressed me. In fog, do I use emergency blinkers or low-beam lights? Do we park 200 or 400 feet from an emergency vehicle entrance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I devoured the manual as if I were preparing for a final exam in grad school. Would I remember enough information to pass? I had to identify twelve road signs. Most were commonsense<\/p>\n\n\n\n and obvious. STOP means stop. But the blank ones were a surprise. What do you say about a blank sign? It\u2019s yellow and has a particular shape. The point was to give the purpose of the<\/p>\n\n\n\n sign\u2014to recognize and differentiate between warnings, regulatory, and informational\/guide signs. The examiner also asked for an example. I felt nervous and intimidated, somewhat as if I were giving a speech to an audience of strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We often encounter road signs in life apart from driving. Some are blank. \u201cI didn\u2019t see it coming,\u201d we may have nervously lamented when we heard our husband\u2019s diagnosis. The words \u201cHe didn\u2019t make it\u201d call us to a detour sign. Sometimes we face a dilemma and have no idea where to turn, despite words printed on signs. We\u2019re intimidated by the unfamiliar. The sign is blank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we move forward in our new life season, heeding signs is critical for our well-being. Just as road signs offer warnings, regulations, and guidance, God\u2019s Word offers light for our path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A caution sign<\/strong> may appear when we face a decision. It\u2019s<\/p>\n\n\n\n our invitation not to move impulsively but to seek wisdom<\/p>\n\n\n\n before proceeding. (James 1:5) <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A slippery-pavement sign<\/strong> reminds us to guard our responses in a conversation, or we may slide into a conflict. (Psalm 141:3\u20134)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A warning sign<\/strong> tells us not to repeat behavior that wasn\u2019t<\/p>\n\n\n\n healthy in the past. (Colossians 3:5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A median strip<\/strong> with arrows tells us to stay in our lane and<\/p>\n\n\n\n not compare our grief or our life with someone else\u2019s. (John<\/p>\n\n\n\n 21:20\u201322)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A stop sign<\/strong> tells us to wait on God and be still. (Psalm 46:10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some signs are obvious. But sometimes we run into signs whose<\/p>\n\n\n\n information isn\u2019t clear, and we\u2019re not sure how to proceed. Perhaps<\/p>\n\n\n\n that\u2019s our guidance, to slow down. Prayer, God\u2019s Word, and other<\/p>\n\n\n\n trustworthy resources can show us whether to continue forward,<\/p>\n\n\n\n change course, or stop and wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will always be safe when we observe a yield sign and submit to God\u2019s time and direction. His Scriptures aren\u2019t meaningless words\u2014they are designed to give us life and safety (Deuteronomy 32:47).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Father, thank You for Your provision in my life. When I\u2019m not thinking clearly, or when I want to move ahead, help me find direction and safety in You. Help me make more time to read Your Word so I know the safest and best way to live. In Jesus\u2019s name, amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflection:<\/strong> Are you reading a clearly instructive road sign or facing a blank one today? Read Psalm 19 to look at the benefits of resting in God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practically Speaking:<\/strong> How can you practically observe the road signs God presents? Sometimes, in our stress or impatience, it\u2019s wise to pull over to a rest area, collect our thoughts, and check<\/p>\n\n\n\n our motives. Proverbs 19:2 cautions us that we can lose the way when we\u2019re hasty. Is there a person who can offer biblical advice or pray with you? Sometimes wise insight helps us gain perspective and see more clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today\u2019s Mourning Glory Covering<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be still, and know that I am God. PSALM 46:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mourning Glories: 40 Devotions on Grief, Faith and New Seasons for Widows<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0was released June 23 by Our Daily Bread Publishing. It\u2019s available on Amazon and bulk copies through ODBP. If you know a widow, consider sharing this devotional with her-forward this post-or gift her a copy of the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marilyn Nutter serves as a facilitator for a grief support group for spouses at her church. The author of\u00a0Hope for Widows<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, she also writes about weaving hope and purpose into our life stories at marilynnutter.com. She makes her home in South Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lori here ~ Do you know someone who\u2019s grieving? Someone who needs solid, biblical reasons to hold on to faith while suffering the loss of someone they love? Let me introduce you to my friend Marilyn Nutter. I met Marilyn in the years following the unexpected loss of her beloved husband. As I watched her […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,82],"tags":[1389,1384,115,107,896,11,116,1386,1388,1387,65],"class_list":["post-3275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-living","category-family","tag-colossians-35","tag-devotional-for-widows","tag-faith","tag-grief","tag-james-15","tag-lori-hatcher","tag-marilyn-nutter","tag-mourning-glories-devotions-on-grief-faith-and-new-seasons-for-widows","tag-psalm-1413","tag-psalm-4610","tag-refresh-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n
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